cheese platterWhen I have friends over, my usual go-to for nibbles is a cheese platter. It super quick and easy, two things that are golden in my book.

 

When putting together a cheese platter, I like to keep this little saying in mind, "Something old, something new, something goat, something blue." Cheesy, huh? (Dorky pun intended).

Keeping that in mind will help you maintain a good variety, that is, choose an older, firmer cheese (such as sharp cheddar), a soft, fresher cheese (such as brie), a goat's milk cheese, and a blue cheese.

Serve with plain crackers or bread. Don't use breads or crackers that have spices in them...it will interfere with the flavoring of the cheese. Embellish with foods like apples, grapes, pears, olives, and nuts. Stay away from citrus fruits, too acidic and will overwhelm the cheeses. Chutneys, jams, and honey are also good.

A good rule of thumb is two ounces of each cheese per person. Arrange the cheese on a plate from mildest to strongest. If you’re not sure which is strongest, smell it. Stinkier cheeses are usually stronger tasting. Serve at room temperature for fullest flavor.

Do you have make cheese platters for entertaining? What's your favorite type of cheese?